Gutter cleaning device and system

ABSTRACT

A gutter cleaning system and device for suctioning debris from a gutter mounted on a house or building above ground level for use with a vacuum cleaner and tubular hose extending from the vacuum cleaner comprising a first hollow tubular conduit having a curvilinear shape, a second hollow tubular pipe having a curvature forming a bend of above zero and less than ninety degrees with the second tubular pipe having one open end adapted to be joined to the first hollow tubular conduit and an opposite open end adapted for placement into the gutter to be cleaned and further comprising a manually adjustable locking mechanism and fitting with the locking mechanism and fitting having a first position for interconnecting the first and second pipes to one another at a fixed angular orientation relative to one another and having a second position for disengaging the first and second pipes from one another thereby permitting the angular orientation of the first and second pipes to be manually adjusted into another position to accommodate different gutter/roof configurations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a gutter cleaning device and system forremoving debris from the gutter(s) mounted on a house or buildingadjacent the roof line and more particularly to a gutter cleaning systemhaving a suction head assembly which is manually adjustable to maneuverthe suction head of the cleaning system to accommodate differentgutter/roof configurations such that the gutter(s) can be readilycleaned from ground level by an operator with minimal experience.

Gutters are structures affixed to houses at the roof line having an opentop for directing rainfall from the roof into downspouts at selectedlocations. The presence of gutter(s) also prevents ice formation at theroof line. However, falling leaves and other debris will collect in thegutters and need to be removed at least once a year to prevent thedebris from clogging up the gutters and downspouts. Otherwise, thecollection of debris in the gutter(s) when saturated with water will,over time, result in roof leakage and roof damage. Gutter(s) areconventionally cleaned by manually removing collected debris from thegutter(s). At present this requires an operator to climb a ladder toaccess and clean the gutters while standing on the ladder or to climbonto the roof and clean the gutters directly from the roof. In eithercase since the operator is susceptible to falling from the latter orroof cleaning the gutters in this fashion is inherently dangerous.

Various gutter cleaning systems have been devised to minimize the dangerin cleaning the gutter(s). Conventional cleaning systems use either ablower or a household wet/dry vacuum cleaner to enable an operator tomanually clean the gutters from ground level thereby avoiding thenecessity to climb onto the roof or to climb upon a latter. However, thesystems which depend upon blowing debris out from the gutters are notvery efficient since some of the debris will invariably be blown back orwill be blown onto the roof from where the debris will wash back intothe gutter in the next rainfall.

The more effective method of cleaning relies upon the use of a householdwet/dry vacuum cleaner to suction debris from the gutter(s). In thisarrangement a conventional vacuum cleaner and vacuum hose is used withor without a manifold assembly for removing debris from the gutter(s).

In some of the prior art systems one end of the hose and manifold ismanually lifted to the gutter from ground level. U.S. Pat. No.3,971,098, for example, teaches an arrangement using a household wet/dryvacuum cleaner for suctioning debris from a gutter through a flexiblehose and manifold which is raised using a conventional extension pole byan operator to the level of the gutter from ground level. A nozzle isattached to the open end of the manifold which is inserted into thegutter. In another U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,782 the hose is combined with aU-shaped adapter to access the gutter. In yet another U.S. Pat. No.6,519,809 a cleaning system is described using a standard vacuum cleanerhaving a flexible hose and a hollow extension handle for accessing thegutters through a gutter head assembly which includes a straight hollowtubular portion, a U shaped bent section extending from the head and anozzle extending from the U shaped bent section. The nozzle itself has afrusto-conical geometry and an enlarged open end for placement in thegutter. The nozzle extends from the bent section at an inclined anglerelative to the straight hollow tubular portion of the head. The entireassembly is raised by the operator using an extension handle until thebent U shaped suction head overhangs the gutter permitting the enlargedopen end of the nozzle to be inserted into the gutter. The suction headlies at an inclined position relative to a vertical axis through thegutter so that the nozzle opening lies substantially horizontal to thebottom of the gutter.

All of the known prior art arrangements for cleaning gutters using ahousehold wet/dry vacuum cleaner to suction debris from ground level areunwieldy and difficult to manipulate particularly from ground level andparticularly when used by an inexperienced operator such as thehomeowner causing the system to operate inefficiently. Moreover, none ofthe known prior art devices permit the suction head assembly to bemaneuvered into the most efficient angular position relative to thegutter to accommodate for different gutter configurations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The gutter cleaning system of the present invention includes a vacuumcleaner and tubular hose extending from the vacuum cleaner incombination with a suction head assembly for suctioning debris from agutter mounted on a house or building above ground level comprising afirst hollow tubular conduit having a curvilinear shape, a second hollowtubular pipe having a curvature forming a bend of above zero and lessthan ninety degrees with the second tubular pipe having one open endadapted to be joined to the first hollow tubular conduit and an oppositeopen end adapted for placement into the gutter to be cleaned uponraising the tubular hose and suction head assembly to the level of thegutter and further comprising a manually adjustable locking mechanismand fitting with the locking mechanism and fitting having a firstposition for interconnecting the first and second pipes to one anotherat a fixed angular orientation relative to one another and having asecond position for disengaging the first and second pipes from oneanother thereby permitting the angular orientation of the first andsecond pipes to be manually adjusted into another position.

In another embodiment of the present invention the suction head assemblycomprises at least three hollow pipes having a first hollow pipe adaptedto be connected to a tubular hose extending from a vacuum cleaner, asecond hollow tubular pipe adapted to be connected to the first pipe anda third hollow pipe adapted to be connected to the second pipe with thethird pipe having an open end for placement in the gutter and furthercomprising a first locking mechanism and fitting having one position forinterconnecting the first and second pipes to one another at a fixedangular orientation relative to each other and another position forreleasing the interconnection and a second locking mechanism and fittinghaving one position for interconnecting the second and third pipes toone another at a fixed angular orientation relative to each other andanother position for releasing the interconnection such that the angularposition between the second and third pipes may be adjusted intosubstantially different angular positions to maneuver the suction headassembly to accommodate different gutter/roof configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the description of the following exemplary embodiments of theinvention with reference to the appended figures of which:

FIG. 1 is an artist rendition, in perspective, of the gutter cleaningdevice and system of the present invention shown attached to a tubularhose extending from a conventional generic shop vacuum;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of the gutter cleaning system of FIG. 1 with the tubular hoseonly partially shown;

FIG. 3 a is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of FIG. 2 shown rotated counterclockwise, about a vertical axisthrough the tubular hose, of approximately ninety degrees relative tothe position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 b is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of FIG. 2 shown rotated counterclockwise, about a vertical axisthrough the tubular hose, of approximately forty five degrees relativeto the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 c is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of FIG. 2 shown rotated counterclockwise, about a vertical axisthrough the tubular hose, of approximately one hundred and thirty fivedegrees relative to the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 d is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of FIG. 2 shown rotated counterclockwise, about a vertical axisthrough the tubular hose, approximately one hundred and eighty degreesrelative to the position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a is a diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suction headassembly of FIG. 2 shown in a first angular position relative to thefloor of a gutter which is only partially shown;

FIG. 4 b is another diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suctionhead assembly of FIG. 2 shown oriented in a second position relative tothe floor of a gutter which is only partially shown;

FIG. 4 c is yet another diagrammatic view, in perspective, of thesuction head assembly of FIG. 2 shown oriented with the suction openingfacing the floor (bottom) of a gutter which is only partially shown;

FIG. 4 d is a further diagrammatic view, in perspective, of the suctionhead assembly of FIG. 2 shown oriented into yet another angular positionrelative to a gutter which is only partially shown;

FIG. 4 e is an even further diagrammatic view, in perspective, of thesuction head assembly of FIG. 2 shown oriented into yet another positionrelative to a wall and floor of a gutter which is only partially shown;

FIG. 4 f is yet an even further diagrammatic view, in perspective, ofthe suction head assembly of FIG. 2 shown in yet another angularposition relative to the floor and wall of a gutter which is onlypartially shown;

FIG. 5 a is a diagrammatic top view of a preferred locking mechanism 24and fittings 22, 23 of the present invention for adjustably coupling anduncoupling the ends of the two adjacent pipes 35 and 36 of FIG. 2 withthe adjacent pipes 35 and 36 only partially shown;

FIG. 5 b is a diagrammatic side view of the locking mechanism 24 andfittings of FIG. 5 a with the locking mechanism 24 shown in the unlockedposition;

FIG. 5 c is a diagrammatic side view of the locking mechanism 24 andfittings 22, 23 of FIG. 5 a with the locking mechanism shown in thelocked position;

FIG. 6 a is a diagrammatic side view similar to FIG. 5 b showing apreferred locking mechanism 24′ and fittings 22′, 23′ coupling the endsof the two adjacent pipes 36 and 38 of FIG. 2 with the adjacent pipes 35and 36 only partially shown and

FIG. 6 b is a diagrammatic side view similar to FIG. 6 a with thelocking mechanism and fittings 22′, 23′ shown in the unlocked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The gutter cleaning device and system 10 of the present invention ishereinafter described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is anartist's rendition of the gutter cleaning system 10 of the presentinvention comprising a suction head assembly 14, a generic shop vacuum11 and a hollow elongated flexible or rigid tubular hose 12. The genericshop vacuum 11 used in the gutter cleaning system 10 of the presentinvention is representative of a conventional vacuum cleaner having aninternal vacuum pump (not shown) adapted to be connected to one end ofthe tubular hose 12 for developing a suction at the opposite end of thetubular hose 12 when the shop cleaner 11 is turned on to actuate thevacuum pump via an electrical switch (not shown) connected to anexternal source of power (not shown). The suction head assembly 14 hasone end connected to the tubular hose 12 and an opposite end forplacement in a gutter 30 extending from a building or residential home32. A conventional extension pole 13 is used to raise the suction headassembly 14 and hose 12 to a height at or above the level of the gutter30 to enable the suction end 40 of the suction head assembly 14 to bemanoeuvred, as explained hereafter, into a desired angular positionwithin the rain gutter 30 to maximize the suction. The extension pole13, which is not part of the present invention, may be attached in anydesired manner to the suction head assembly 14 for lifting the assembly14 and hose 12 to the position of the gutter 30. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the suction head assembly 14, as shown inFIG. 2, includes a hollow tubular abutment 32 sized to receive theextension pole 13 for permitting an operator 20, as shown in FIG. 1, toreadily raise the suction head assembly 14 to the level of the gutter30.

The suction head assembly 14 as shown in FIG. 2 preferably comprises atleast three hollow tubular sections of pipe 35, 36 and 38 with eachsection of pipe representing a bent tubular cylinder constructed of, forexample, PVC plastic. The two tubular cylinders 35 and 36 may, incombination, be represented by a single hollow tubular conduit with abent U shaped curvature of substantially 180 degrees or may comprise twoindependent hollow tubular sections of pipe 35 and 36, as is shown inFIG. 2, with each pipe section 35 and 36 having a preferred curvature ofsubstantially ninety degrees. In the preferred arrangement as shown inFIG. 2, the two sections of pipe 35 and 36 are coupled together at acommon end 27 by use of compression fittings 22 and 23 and a lockingmechanism 24 (as shown in FIG. 5). The compression fittings 22 and 23are mounted over the pipes 35 and 36 adjacent the common end 27 so thatthe fittings 22 and 23 are in relative close proximity to one another.The fittings 22 and 23 are interconnected to the locking mechanism 24through mechanical links 21 and 25 respectively as shown in FIGS. 5 a-5c respectively.

The tubular section of pipe 38 is adapted to be connected to the sectionof pipe 36 at the end thereof opposite the suction end 40 of pipe 38using a set of compression fittings 22′ and 23′ as is shown in FIG. 2.The compression fittings 22′ and 23′ are interconnected to a lockingmechanism 24′ as shown in FIG. 6 a-6 b respectively. The arrangementbetween the fittings 22 and 23 and locking mechanism 24 for coupling anduncoupling pipes 35 and 36 may be identical to the arrangement betweenthe fittings 22′ and 23′ and the locking mechanism 24′ for coupling anduncoupling pipes 36 and 38.

The locking mechanism 24 as is shown in FIGS. 5 a-5 c includes links 21and 25 which are pivotally interconnected to one other at a common pivotpoint 41 connected to the lifting handle 26. The links 21 and 25 areseparately connected to the compression fittings 22 and 23 at pivotjoints 28 and 29 respectively. The locking mechanism 24 may be manuallyplaced in an unlocking or disengaged position as shown in FIG. 5 b bylifting the lift handle 26 or may be manually locked into the engagedposition shown in FIG. 5 c by depressing the lift handle 26. Eachsection of pipe 35 and 36 has a common end 27 located between theadjacent compression fittings 22 and 23. The open end of each section ofpipe 35 and 36 at the common end 27 is cut to form complimentaryserrated edges 42 and 43 which will engage or disengage one another uponoperation of the locking mechanism 24. The serrated edges 42 and 43interact and mesh at the common end 27 when the locking mechanism 24 isin the locked position as shown in FIG. 5 c and will pull apart from oneanother when the locking mechanism 24 is in the unlocked position asshown in FIG. 5 b. Accordingly, when the locking mechanism 24 is in theengaged position the pipes 35 and 36 lock into a fixed angularorientation relative to one another and when in the disengaged positionthe pipes 35 and 36 are adjustable.

Likewise compression fittings 22′ and 23′ which are mounted on pipes 36and 38 as shown in FIG. 2 are in an arrangement with a locking mechanism24′ as shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 b for coupling and uncoupling pipes 36and 38 in a manner substantially identical to the arrangement ofcompression fittings 22 and 23 and locking mechanism 24 for coupling anduncoupling pipes 35 and 36. The pipes 36 and 38 have a common end 27′located between adjacent compression fittings 22′ and 23′. The open endof each section of pipe 36 and 38 at the common end 27′ is cut to formcomplimentary serrated edges 42′ and 43′ similar to the serrated edges42 and 43 in pipes 35 and 36 respectively. The serrated edges 42′ and43′ interact and mesh when the locking mechanism 24′ is in the lockedposition as shown in FIG. 6 c and pull apart from one another when thelocking mechanism 24′ is in the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 6 b.

An operator can adjust the angular orientation of the suction headassembly 14 or suction end 40 of the pipe 38 so as to maneuver thesuction head assembly 14 relative to the gutter 30 to a position ofmaximum efficiency. This may be done by disengaging each lockingmechanisms 24 and 24′ and adjusting the relative angular position ofpipe 38 in the gutter 30. In this fashion an operator can at any timemanually reposition the suction head assembly 14 into a new angularorientation relative to the gutter 30.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the hollow tubularpipes 35, 36 and 38 are identical to one another in construction as wellas in diameter but not in curvature. The pipe 38 should preferably havea curvature of less than ninety degrees relative to the floor or bottomof the gutter 30 which, in general, lies horizontally aligned parallelto ground level. The preferred angular curvature of pipe 38 ispreferably at or less than forty five degrees relative to the floor ofthe gutter 30.

FIGS. 3 a-3 d show the angular orientation of the suction head assembly14 at different positions with the suction head assembly 14 rotatedcounterclockwise about a vertical axis through the tubular hose 12. FIG.4 a-4 d shows examples of different orientations of the suction headassembly 14 relative to the position of the gutter 30. This operationmay be accomplished by unlocking the locking mechanisms 24 and 24′,changing the position of the suction head assembly 14 and relocking thelocking mechanisms 24 and 24′. In this fashion the suction head assembly14 may be maneuvered to assume an endless number of positions relativeto the gutter 30 thereby permitting a wide range of adjustment toaccommodate many different gutter/roof configurations.

Variations of the invention described in connection with FIGS. 2-5include the repositioning of one of the locking mechanisms 24 or 24′ andeither compression fittings 22 and 23 or compression fittings 22′ and23′ to a location between pipe 35 and the tubular hose 12 instead ofeither between pipes 35 and 36 or between pipes 36 and 38 respectively.In this case the tubular hose 12 should be constructed of a rigidmaterial. However, this arrangement will provide less control overangular orientation between the suction head assembly 14 and the gutter30 relative to the arrangement in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG.2.

It should also be understood that the locking mechanism 24 and 24′ maybe modified from the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 a-5 e and FIGS. 6 a-6b by not cutting the pipes at the common ends 27 and 27′ intocomplimentary serrated edges 42 and 43 and 42′ and 43′ respectively.Instead the diameter at each of the common ends 27 and 27′ of the pipescan vary slightly from one another by tapering the end of one of eachpair of pipes 35, 36 and/or 36, 38 so that each pipe will fit within theother at the common ends 27 and 27′ forming an overlap for at least fora short distance thereby permitting the pipes to be drawn into oneanother upon engaging the locking mechanism 24 and 24′ i.e., when thelocking mechanism 24 or 24′ is placed in its engaged position and todisengage from one another when the locking mechanism 24 or 24′ isplaced in its unlocked position.

The present invention also contemplates using only one locking mechanismeither between pipes 35 and 36 or 36 and 38 respectively.

1- A gutter cleaning system for suctioning debris from a gutter mountedon a house or building above ground level including a vacuum cleaner andtubular hose extending from the vacuum cleaner in combination with asuction head assembly comprising a first hollow tubular conduit having acurvilinear shape, a second hollow tubular pipe having a curvatureforming a bend of above zero and less than ninety degrees with thesecond tubular pipe having one open end adapted to be joined to thefirst hollow tubular conduit and an opposite open end adapted forplacement into the gutter to be cleaned upon raising the tubular hoseand suction head assembly to the level of the gutter and furthercomprising a manually adjustable locking mechanism and fitting with thelocking mechanism and fitting having a first position forinterconnecting the first and second pipes to one another at a fixedangular orientation relative to one another and having a second positionfor disengaging the first and second pipes from one another therebypermitting the angular orientation of the first and second pipes to bemanually adjusted into another position. 2- A gutter cleaning system asdefined in claim 1 further comprising a third hollow tubular conduitwith one end adapted to be connected to the tubular hose extending fromthe vacuum cleaner and an opposite end adapted to be connected to thefirst tubular conduit with the third tubular conduit having a curvaturewhich in combination with the curvature of the first tubular conduitforms a curvature of substantially 180 degrees. 3- A gutter cleaningsystem as defined in claim 2 wherein the curvature of each of said firstand third tubular conduits is substantially equal to ninety degrees. 4-A gutter cleaning system as defined in claim 2 wherein the manuallyadjustable locking mechanism and fitting is located between either thefirst and second tubular conduits or between the first and third tubularconduits. 5- A gutter cleaning system as defined in claim 4 furthercomprising at least another manually adjustable locking mechanism andfitting with one manually adjustable locking mechanism and fittingconnected between the first and second tubular conduits and with theother manually adjustable locking mechanism and fitting connectedbetween the first and third tubular conduits. 6- A gutter cleaningsystem as defined in claim 5 wherein said suction head assembly furthercomprises a hollow tubular abutment sized to receive an extension polefor lifting the tubular hose and suction head assembly from ground levelto the level of the gutter. 7- A gutter cleaning system as defined inclaim 5 wherein each of the pipes to which the manually adjustablelocking mechanism is coupled has an end with a serrated edge in acomplimentary arrangement to enable the ends of adjacent pipe to engageand mesh for locking the pipes into a fixed angular orientation relativeto one another when the locking mechanism and fitting is placed in afirst position and to disengage from one another when the lockingmechanism and fitting is unlocked. 8- A gutter cleaning system asdefined in claim 7 wherein the fitting for each locking mechanismcomprise a pair of compression fittings mounted over the ends of thepipes to be coupled adjacent the serrated edges thereof. 9- A guttercleaning device forming a suction head assembly for use in a guttercleaning system including a vacuum cleaner and tubular hose extendingfrom the vacuum cleaner for suctioning debris from a gutter mounted on ahouse or building above ground level when the suction head assembly isconnected to the tubular hose comprising a first hollow tubular conduithaving a curvilinear shape, a second hollow tubular pipe having acurvature forming a bend of above zero and less than ninety degrees withthe second tubular pipe having one open end adapted to be joined to thefirst hollow tubular conduit and an opposite open end adapted forplacement into the gutter to be cleaned and further comprising amanually adjustable locking mechanism and fitting with the lockingmechanism and fitting having a first position for interconnecting thefirst and second pipes to one another at a fixed angular orientationrelative to one another and having a second position for disengaging thefirst and second pipes from one another thereby permitting the angularorientation of the first and second pipes to be manually adjusted intoanother position to accommodate different gutter/roof configurations.10- A gutter cleaning device as claimed in claim 9 further comprising athird hollow tubular conduit with one end adapted to be connected to thetubular hose extending from the vacuum cleaner and an opposite endadapted to be connected to the first tubular conduit with the thirdtubular conduit having a curvature which in combination with thecurvature of the first tubular conduit forms a curvature ofsubstantially 180 degrees.